Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Beginning on July 1, retailers were required to assess a new 6 percent sales tax (7 percent in local option towns) to “soft drinks” as recently redefined by lawmakers. Included in the tax changes enacted by the Vermont Legislature last month, is a new sales tax on a wide variety of beverages sold at retail stores. While referred to as a “soft drink” tax, the definition adopted is not only on carbonation beverages but rather applies to beverages that contain a sweetener (diet or regular).

"Soft Drinks" mean non-alcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. "Soft drinks" do not include beverages that contain milk or milk products, soy, rice or similar milk substitutes, or greater than fifty percent of vegetable or fruit juice by volume.

Among the list of taxable beverages:

· Most sodas, but not unsweetened club soda and seltzers;

· Ice teas, but not unsweetened teas

Vermont Business Magazine Hannaford Supermarkets has donated $20,000 to support an innovative nutrition program for primary care patients at The University of Vermont Medical Center . The “Health Care Shares” initiative, created in partnership with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC), provides free vegetables, nutrition education and cooking tips to lower income patients at primary care clinics in Colchester, South Burlington and Milton. The produce is grown, harvested and delivered by the (VYCC).

Vermont Business Magazine State Director, Linda Rossi, announced that Charley Ininger has been selected as the 2015 State Star of Vermont Small Business Development Center. Charles (Charley) Ininger is the Area Business Advisor for Central Vermont, serving Washington and Lamoille counties, and is the statewide Craft Beverage Specialist. Ininger joined VtSBDC in 2009 and has worked on the “Small Business Jobs Act,” focused on job creation as well as a disaster recovery grant helping businesses mitigate future risk with improved planning. Prior to VtSBDC, Charley owned several businesses in Vermont and was a consultant in the hospitality industry and an adjunct instructor at local colleges.

Governor Peter Shumlin has appointed Ruth Finn of Barre to serve a third term as Commissioner on the state’s Vermont Commission on Women (VCW). Finn has served on the VCW since 2003 and brings a wealth of public service experience and an interest in women’s history to the Commission.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has its fair share of flying insects, and mosquitoes seem to thrive here in the summer months. Mosquito surveillance, which includes the weekly collection and testing of specific types of mosquitoes, has begun across the state. During the past few summers, mosquitoes carrying Eastern equine encephalitis(EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV) have been found in Vermont. Results of mosquito testing will be updated on the Health Department website throughout the summer.

In 2014, there were eight mosquito pools that tested positive for WNV and eight more that tested positive for EEE virus. Human illness caused by mosquitoes is uncommon in the state, but in 2012, two people from Rutland County died from EEE. In 2013, two horses in Franklin County were infected and died.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer on Monday announced that his office has initiated four new performance audits and an investigation. The audits include the increase in Tax Department receivables, which have grown significantly in recent years to $166 million; the Education Agency's Race to the Top funding and its equalized pupil calculation will be looked into; and public defender reimbursements will be reviewed. The auditor will also investigate sole-source contracts in high-profile state departments, including Vermont Health Access and Buildings.

The Auditor’s Office recently released a performance audit of the Department of Corrections’ Transitional Housing Program and plans to issue another audit report early next month dealing with the Department of Labor’s efforts to identify instances of employee misclassification for both Unemployment Insurance and Workers Compensation.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Capital of Vermont (CCVT), based in Barre, New England’s highest volume SBA micro-lender, has completed second quarter loans to companies providing transportation, sustainable architecture, and home cleaning services; to entrepreneurs offering beauty supplies, making kimchi and hot sauce, and providing design solutions for nursing moms on the go. These companies are based all over Vermont, from Burlington to Plainfield, Hardwick to Charlotte, and beyond.

“CCVT helps small businesses and lower income entrepreneurs prosper through flexible business financing and our newest addition of business advisory support services,” noted Martin Hahn, Community Capital of Vermont Executive Director. “Our borrowers, as well as our organization, reflect the character of Vermont: authentic, service-oriented, innovative, and invested in community.”

Vermont Business Magazine Goddard College faculty and staff have voted overwhelmingly in favor of the terms of new, three-year union contracts. The ratification ends 27 months of negotiations between the College and bargaining units. The United Auto Workers, Local 2322, represents approximately 90 Goddard College faculty members and 45 college staff members. The new union agreements preserve the current health and dental benefits with no increases in premium share; increases the minimum wage at Goddard College from $9.15 to $11 per hour, with subsequent increase to $12 per hour beginning July 2016; and eliminates the need for faculty and unionized staff salary pay cuts.

Vermont Business Magazine Dynapower Company, the global leader in energy storage inverters based in South Burlington, Vermont, announced that it will be supplying the 250 kW energy storage inverters as an integral part of Tesla's recently announced Powerpack Commercial battery systems for large commercial and utility customers. The Dynapower MPS-250 inverter is a UL-listed, field-proven product with outstanding performance history. Tesla selected the Dynapower system based on the company's technology, track record, and long-term viability.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) said on Sunday that he would take his presidential campaign to all corners of the country to highlight poverty in the United States and unite the nation behind ways to help working families and the collapsing middle class. He also detailed policy differences with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, another Democratic presidential candidate.

“The American people understand that establishment politics and establishment economics are not working for the middle class and working families of this country and they want real change. They want to end the absurdity of seeing the middle class in this country continue its 40-year decline,” Sanders said in an interview on the CBS News program “Face the Nation.”

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Problems at Rutland Mental Health Services prompted a legislative hearing last week, which was a prelude to a review of all local designated agencies in the next legislative session. State officials placed Rutland Mental Health Services on probationary status this month. The nonprofit, which has an exclusive contract to provide social services in Rutland County, has seven months to create and implement plans to improve services that officials have described as subpar. Rutland Mental Health is one of 11 designated agencies in Vermont. The agencies receive state contracts to provide mental health, developmental disability and substance use services. The agencies receive more than $300 million from the state each year, and RMH receives more than $28 million annually.

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund The VSJF Flexible Capital Fund has invested $285,000 in new and existing portfolio companies between 2013 through 1st quarter 2015. It remains the only Vermont licensed lender to offer royalty loans at a Vermont scale and as an alternative to equity financing. Since its launch in 2011, it has invested over $1.7 million in seven companies, and have already seen one early payout. Revenues in 2014 for its portfolio companies totaled $23.8 million in aggregate - a weighted increase of 62 percent over 2013 revenues. Five of our six companies (in 2014) increased sales growth with each year following the Flex Fund investment.